Michigan Landlord Compliance
Everything you're responsible for as a landlord in Michigan
Rent control, just-cause eviction, deposits, entry, repairs and recordkeeping, written for people who own or manage a few units, checked against the official sources, and kept current when the rules move.
Jurisdiction
key details
Rent cap · Detail
No statutory limit on rent or increases (only the Consumer Protection Act bar on rent 'grossly in excess of' comparable units, MCL 445.903(1)(z)); local rent control is prohibited by MCL 123.411. Rent cannot be raised mid-lease.
Deposit cap · Detail
A security deposit shall not exceed 1-1/2 months' rent; the first full rental period may not be treated as part of the deposit (MCL 554.601(d)).
Rent increase notice · Detail
No statute sets a rent-increase notice; rent on a month-to-month tenancy is changed via the one-interval (one month) notice under MCL 554.134(1). No increase during a fixed lease except cost pass-throughs the lease allows (MCL 554.633(1)(l)).
City rules · Detail
Local governments may not enact, maintain or enforce rent control ordinances or resolutions on private residential property unless the local unit has an ownership interest in the property.
Just cause · Detail
No statewide good-cause requirement: a month-to-month tenancy ends on notice equal to the rent interval (one month) under MCL 554.134(1) and a fixed term simply expires. Mobile-home parks and public/subsidized housing have separate cause rules.
Return deadline · Detail
Within 30 days after termination of occupancy the landlord must mail an itemized damage list with a check for the balance, or return the full deposit; failure = no damages due (MCL 554.610). Tenant gives forwarding address within 4 days.
Nonpayment notice · Detail
Written 7-day demand for possession / notice to quit for nonpayment of rent; summary proceedings may be filed if the tenant has neither paid nor vacated by the end of the 7 days.
What are you trying to do?
Start from the task. Each route gathers the guides, checklists and forms that apply to it in Michigan.
Essential local guides
If you're new to owning here, these five cover most of what will come up in your first year.
View All GuidesDetroit Rental Ordinance 2025: A Certificate of Compliance Is Required Before Landlords Can Collect Rent
A Detroit landlord who last checked this rule during the 2025 pilot phase, when it only applied in 21 specific ZIP codes, is working from an outdated map. Since May 1, 2025, the reformed compliance certificate, escrow, and lead-testing framework applies across the entire city, and a property that was outside the pilot boundary a year ago isn't outside it anymore.
Guide
Ann Arbor Rental Application Fee Cap 2025: $50 Limit and a Ban on Holding and Move-In Fees
An Ann Arbor landlord who thinks they've been compliant since the pre-tenancy fee ban took effect last year has a second, newer rule to check. Since August 1, 2026, a mandatory fee a tenant can't decline, an amenity charge, a flat administrative fee, whatever it's called, can't be billed separately anymore. It has to be folded into the advertised rent itself.
Guide
Michigan Source of Income Law 2025: Landlords Can't Refuse Applicants Over Vouchers or Public Benefits
A Michigan landlord who reads "source-of-income discrimination is now banned statewide" and stops there is missing the part that actually determines whether a specific property is covered. Since April 2, 2025, this protection runs through two separate statutes, a landlord-tenant law and the state's civil rights act, and each one draws its exemption line in a different place.
Guide
Michigan HOA Laws: A Comprehensive Guide
Master Michigan HOA laws! Understand the framework for condos and standard HOAs, upcoming solar energy mandates, and crucial title preservation rules.
Guide
7 min
Michigan Security Deposit Laws | Deductions & Rights
If you're ready to understand more about the Michigan security deposit laws, ensure to carefully read through this post...
Guide
10 min
Recent changes
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No recent changes for Michigan yet.
Full Michigan collection
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| Resource | Type | Task | Reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|
Detroit Rental Ordinance 2025: A Certificate of Compliance Is Required Before Landlords Can Collect Rent A Detroit landlord who last checked this rule during the 2025 pilot phase, when it only applied in 21 specific ZIP codes, is working from an outdated map. Since May 1, 2025, the reformed compliance certificate, escrow, and lead-testing framework applies across the entire city, and a property that was outside the pilot boundary a year ago isn't outside it anymore. | Guides | Keep the right records | Sep 30, 2026 |
Michigan HOA Laws: A Comprehensive Guide Master Michigan HOA laws! Understand the framework for condos and standard HOAs, upcoming solar energy mandates, and crucial title preservation rules. | Guides | Keep the right records | May 26, 2026 |
What Are My Rights as a Tenant in Michigan? Explained This article explains the rights of a tenant in Michigan | Guides | Keep the right records | Mar 2, 2026 |
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From reading to managing
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What you read about
Rent increase dates and notice
In Platuni
Obligation tracking with reminders
What you read about
Move-in and move-out photos
In Platuni
Records kept per unit, per tenancy
What you read about
Repair requests and responses
In Platuni
Maintenance log with timestamps
What you read about
Everything a hearing could ask for
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